Probably the most often misunderstood element of KDE4 is Plasma, the extensive widget engine that replaces the normal desktop and the Kicker panel from KDE 3.x. The entire KDE4 desktop is built up out of Plasmoids (yet another term for desk accessory), including the panel and the desktop itself - and it is the latter that has been causing quite some confusion. Where are my desktop icons? Update: Aaron Seigo has published a screencast showing how the FolderView Plasmoid behaves as a normal desktop, and how to make it so.

As for accusing people who have legitimate complaints about the direction KDE 4.x has taken of being "astroturfers", that's just insulting.

Sorry, but I meant to imply no such thing. I apologise if I wasn't clear.

I simply observe that there demonstrably is a raft of invalid criticism being made ... criticism that continues even after the critic has been shown how the criticism is invalid ... which is therefore undoubtedly just astroturfing and not valid constructive criticism at all.

I also observe that valid, legitimate, constructive criticism, such as undoubtedly some genuine people are sincerely trying to make ... is unfortunately apparently just getting lost in the noise.